First, thank you for your patience. We FINALLY got to what you were waiting for. And I plan for Chapter 16 to be killer.
But first you have to get past this mess. So if this chapter seems messy, please forgive me.
Thank you to all the wonderful people at FF who have given me such encouragement. Please continue to be honest.
ABC owns OUAT. Too tired for a big disclaimer.
God...this is bad. Be kind.
Morning. Copley Plaza, Suite 522, Boston.
The morning started with Regina Mills confirming her first real groupie (since, maybe, younger Snow). It was 7:25 when the knocking started. Vigorous and energetic. A disheveled, never-ready-for-mornings Ruby Lucas rolled off the couch she was sleeping on (it was a two bedroom suite, Regina and Emma in one, Snow and James in the other, and she took the couch to avoid any...temptation with the other), and opened the door to reveal one bouncy hunk of perky named Holly...face full of smile and hand full of bags from McDonald's. Last night, this Holly and her niece Maddie were charming, friendly, and understanding about everything.
This morning, Ruby wished had turned wolf and had breakfast, with Holly as her McMuffin.
"Come in.' The shapeshifter said as she sleepily invited the Boston blonde in.
Through the spacious suite there were the sounds of people getting ready for the day. Showers were running, ruffing sounds were heard, and one distinct female voice shouting "Hey Charming where's the deodorant!" was detected.
"I just thought since Regina and Emma had to be somewhere this morning I took it upon myself to get them breakfast...that IS alright...?" Holly was a cheerful and chipper as one of those peppy morning show hostesses on TV. One reason Ruby sleeps in.
"Well, A...yes and thank you. And B...are you some kinda stalker?" After all, Rubes thought, the events of yesterday would send the average person screaming into the street. But then this girl was not average. Blonde hair, good looks, nice rack. The wolf in Ruby was thinking if this chick wasn't so stuck on the mayor, and if it wasn't for her own relationship with Snow and James, she'd attempt to tap that herself. Oh well...
A door opened and out stepped Regina Mills herself, wearing nothing but a bathrobe and brandishing a Number 9 Conair portable. "What in the hell are you doing here?" A slightly annoyed Regina directed the query to a slightly taken-aback Holly. "and where's that niece of yours?"
"Breakfast, Regina. And Maddie's back at my suite. The little human can take care of herself quite well."
Regina heaved a sigh of slight frustration. "Look...Holly. I...we..appreciate breakfast, and last night and everything. And you are welcome stop by anytime. As a matter of fact, we might need your help since you know Boston so well. But this morning we are gonna be really busy, so if we seem a little...shall I say..brusque...I'm sorry."
Holly, in a quizzical mode, "brusque?"
Ruby whispered in reply, "Translation...stay out of my way I'll turn you into a toad."
Regina coughed a "hraumph" in Ms. Lucas' direction, to which the shapeshifter replied, "Wha?" Regina then grabbed a bag (Sausage Mcmuffin, egg, OJ) and gave her guest a appreciative peck on the cheek and headed back to her bedroom Holly blushed.
Holly: "I'll never wash this cheek as long as I live."
Ruby "Ewww."
Then both went for their own glasses of Minute Maid. And maybe it was her wolf-senses...but Ruby almost swore that, for a second, she saw that cup of juice scoot over to Holly's hands by itself...
Storybrooke Memorial Hospital, 8:56am
The doors of the emergency room have burst open. The man on the gurney, 60s, white hair, balding, Orderlies from the ambulance are wheeling him in. Doc Grove (Just call him Doc...everyone did back home) is attending to him. Appointed deputy August was patrolling the morning when he got the call that some kids found a man in the bushes on the outskirts of town. WHen they got there he was barely alive.
Going in and out of consciousness, the man seemed to be trying to say something, even though the orderlies tried to tell him conserve his strength.
There was no outward sign of physical violence...any injuries seemed to be internal, and many. Doc was examining and notice no signs of identification. As it happened, a window glance showed Judge Crow walking past the hospital. Doc told one of the men in white to go out and get Mallie...she knew almost everyone in Storybrooke...maybe she can ID the guy. Then the doctor ordered the other orderly to call Whale, wherever he is, to come in..we have an emergency.
Mallie Crow never walks in, she makes an entrance. This morning's entrance was that of someone highly annoyed that someone grabbed her off the street on her way to Madame's chambers.
"Now listen Doc," as her Honor strutted up the hospital hall, "if this is a ploy for you or your other six buddies to look down my cleavage at 9 in the morning, I'll..." Mallie stopped as she noticed the man on the gurney. Judge Crow looked at the patient, then at Doc for a bit.
"Who is he?"
"That's why we got you in here, Judge...maybe you'd know..."
Mallie bent down and looked at the older man laying on the gurney. When Doc asked Mallie did she know who the man was, the doctor was greeted by the blonde judge with a look of, at first recognition...and then of horror.
The fact that the man finally whispered a recognizable name did not help...
"Co...ra..."
Copley Plaza Restaurant 4:59pm
To say it was a long day would be an understatement.
For the mayor and the sheriff, it was a very short meeting at the police station. Long enough to be kicked out, patronized, and ignored. Actually they were lucky they did not mention the real truth. That real dragons could strike Boston at any time. But of course that would be matching strait-jackets.
For Ruby, Snow, and James, it meant a few hours of animated discussion over the two new friends who had inexplicably attached themselves to the quintet, Holly and Maddie. Well, basically Holly, who the shapeshifting redhead clearly saw attracting a cup to her hand as if by...well...the debate was really whether to tell the young woman and her niece the truth about...everything.
By the time Regina and Emma came back to the suite they were pretty much convinced by Red's arguments that Holly and Maddie should know the truth if only for their protection and because they know the city better than any one, even Emma.
So the quintet invited the pair for dinner downstairs. Nothing fancy, but hearty. Roasted chicken, green beans, mashed Idahos with gravy. Coke for everyone, except Regina who insisted on apple juice. Nothing but small talk, then Ruby mentioned what she noticed.
"You're kidding?" The blonde Bostonian was all off-the-cuff denial about a moving cup. Maddie, however, had a look of I've-been-here-before.
The man and women around the restaurant table seemed a bit nervous. They wanted to say something, but they didn't know how to say it. It was Regina who broke the silence.
The mayor broke out the kindest-looking smile she could. Took a deep breath. Internally prayed for the best. "Holly...(exhaling)...we told you last night that we were here on business. That we were looking for some terrorists who were from our town in Maine..."
Holly nodded.
"Well that was not everything..." In a very deliberate manner, Regina Mills told the two young women the full story. That Regina was a queen who transferred her entire kingdom to a small town in Maine because she wanted to exact revenge on a young girl who betrayed her trust, which led to a man Regina loved very much to die in a most gruesome manner. That the same young woman was Mary Margaret who, with her husband, have joined on this...well...business trip.
And oh yes, said Mary Margaret was Snow White, the husband was Prince Charming, Regina was the Evil Queen, and Ruby was Little Red Riding Hood. Ok...not so little. And she was also the Big Bad Wolf.
The reaction of the two young women were as one would expect. Stare for a few seconds, than a look at each other. Then a sudden realization that they forgot something in their room and it was nice to meet them and they hoped that they have good luck. Now where are those exits...?
(Under her breath, Ruby muttered, "well, that went well..")
But just as Holly and Maddie found the door, the TV was blasting a special report of fires. Massive fires that were consuming the East and South Boston, spreading to the North End.
Logan was closed and fire crews were fighting to save the airport.
That got the attention of the girls. What got the attention of Regina was this..
Reporter: "There have been reports that...as incredible as it seems, people are claiming the the flames emanated from the SKY. Many of the people we have talked to have said the same thing. Also something unusual...it's pretty dark here. Very overcast, and the sky has taken on a strange texture...swiftly moving clouds with a greenish tint..."
That's all the five needed. They bolted out of the restaurant, followed by Holly and Maddie who were now looking for some answers...if they could form the questions...
When the seven got outside, the worst fears of five of them were confirmed. And for Emma, she knew exactly what Holly and Maddie were feeling, because the sheriff was in the exact same situation when she finally believed when she faced this. Holly and Maddie, for their own part, were blanched by terror at what they were seeing.
Approaching the skyline of the central city were three...three...dragons. Real. Honest to God. Dragons. Flying dragons. Flame-breathing dragons. and they seem intent to set the city on fire,
The two young Bostonians (not to mention the panicked crowd that had gathered in the street) were too horror-stricken to see the five from Storybrooke close their eyes, concentrated, and have swords instantly form in their hands..
And as panic swirled around them, Snow White, Prince Charming, Red Riding Hood, the Savior, and the Evil Queen were about to do what they came to Boston to do.
King James was the first to point his sword skyward in the general direction of the green, flame-throwing, screeching mass coming towards them. He smirked.
"Party time..."
TO BE CONTINUED.